Citizen’s Guide to CO Auto Insurance

Policy Disclosure and C.R.S. § 10-3-1117

Colorado law gives claimants a concrete mechanism to request disclosure of relevant auto liability policies.

Many citizens assume that if insurance exists, the company will simply disclose the policy and coverage limits when asked. In practice, that often does not happen automatically. Colorado has a specific disclosure statute for auto liability claims, and understanding it can change how a claim is evaluated from the beginning.

This page explains what the statute requires, why the request process matters, and how disclosure can affect the search for all relevant coverage.

What the Statute Requires

Colorado’s disclosure statute applies to insurers that provide or may provide commercial automobile or personal automobile liability insurance coverage for a pending or prospective claim. After receiving a written request from the claimant or the claimant’s attorney — and the statute specifies that the request is sent to the insurer’s registered agent — the insurer must respond within thirty calendar days.

The required disclosure includes, for each known policy of the named insured that is or may be relevant to the claim, including excess or umbrella insurance:

  • the name of the insurer

  • the name of each insured party as shown on the declarations page

  • the limits of liability coverage

  • a copy of the policy

The statute is about disclosure of the real and relevant coverage picture, not just the first policy someone mentions, or says it is all they know.

What the Statute Also Says About Insured-Party Requests

The statute contains a separate rule for an insured party requesting their own policy. It says that, within thirty calendar days after receiving a written request from an insured party, an insurer issuing a personal or commercial auto policy for delivery in Colorado must provide a copy of the complete policy, including endorsements.

The statute also says that an insured party, upon written request of a claimant or the claimant’s attorney, shall disclose the name and coverage of each known insurer of the insured party. 

What Readers Should Ask For

A good disclosure request is specific and directed at the real coverage questions.

  • the name of each insurer that may provide coverage

  • each known policy that is or may be relevant

  • any excess or umbrella policy

  • the insured names as shown on the declarations page

  • the liability limits

  • a copy of each relevant policy

  • confirmation of when the insurer received the written request

  • confirmation of whether the request was sent to the insurer’s registered agent 

    Timing, Penalty, and Enforcement

    Colorado’s disclosure statute has a concrete timeline and a concrete penalty structure.

    • the insurer has 30 calendar days to provide the required disclosure

    • the penalty begins on and includes day 31

    • the penalty accrues at $100 per day until the required information is provided

    • the insurer is also responsible for attorney fees and costs incurred to enforce the penalty

      Confidentiality and Limited Sharing

      The statute also contains a confidentiality rule. It says the claimant and the claimant’s attorney shall not disclose the policy information received under the statute to any other party, except that they may discuss the information with the claimant’s own insurer.

      That means the statute is not simply a public-record device. It is a targeted disclosure mechanism designed to reduce uncertainty while still limiting broader distribution of the policy information.  

Legal note

C.R.S. § 10-3-1117 requires disclosure, within 30 calendar days after a proper written request sent to the insurer’s registered agent, of each known policy of the named insured that is or may be relevant to the claim, including excess or umbrella insurance, along with the insurer name, insured names, liability limits, and a copy of the policy. The statute also imposes a $100-per-day penalty beginning on day 31 and allows attorney fees and costs to enforce the penalty. 

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Why This Matters

Information asymmetry is one of the central problems in auto insurance claims. The insurer typically knows the policy structure, endorsements, limits, and related coverage questions long before the injured citizen does. If the available insurance is not disclosed promptly and fully, the claimant may make decisions without understanding the real coverage picture.

That matters most in serious cases, especially when limits may be low, other policies may exist, work-related use may be involved, or underinsured motorist coverage may become important. Policy disclosure is not a technical side issue. It is often one of the first gateway questions in understanding a claim. 

How the System Actually Works vs. What people commonly believe

People often believe that once a claim is reported, the relevant insurer and policy limits will be identified quickly and without resistance.

What often happens in practice

In practice, disclosure may be delayed, partial, informal, or framed in a way that suggests the first policy named is the only one that matters. Citizens may not know that Colorado law provides a formal written-request path with a statutory response deadline.

Why the gap matters

Without full disclosure, a claimant may misunderstand the available coverage, settle too early, overlook additional policies, or fail to recognize when underinsured motorist coverage or work-related vehicle use should be investigated. 

Colorado Court of Appeals Opinion re: CRS Sec 10-3-1117

In Bohanan v. Esurance Property & Casualty Insurance Co., a published Colorado Court of Appeals decision announced on February 5, 2026, the majority read the disclosure statute broadly in a dispute over whether a policy had to be produced. The opinion reinforces the statute’s transparency function and is a reminder that the insurer’s position on coverage does not necessarily end the disclosure question. 

What the Division of Insurance Can and Cannot Do

Colorado’s Division of Insurance says it answers consumer questions, investigates complaints, and can review whether companies are complying with Colorado insurance law. It also says it does not determine liability, decide what coverage is owed, or negotiate settlement amounts on a claimant’s behalf. For claim-handling concerns, questions, and complaints, DOI directs consumers to its Consumer Services Team and complaint portal. DOI has also reported recovering $21.5 million for Coloradans in FY 2022–23 through complaint work. 

  • DOI can review claim handling for compliance with Colorado insurance law

  • DOI can investigate complaints and answer consumer questions

  • DOI does not decide liability or negotiate settlement value for you 

Why Public Understanding Matters

A disclosure statute is useful only if citizens know it exists and understand how it works. Public education about disclosure, timing, penalties, and coverage identification helps reduce the informational imbalance that defines so many serious auto claims. 

What To Read Next

Policy disclosure connects directly to the pages below.

  • There May Be More Than One Policy

  • Minimum Limits Are Not Real Protection

  • “Full Coverage” Does Not Mean Full Protection

  • The “Personal” Work Truck Problem

VictimsGuide.com is a public-interest educational project focused on Colorado auto insurance, crash recovery systems, transparency, accountability, and reform. Its purpose is to help citizens understand how these systems work in practice.

Disclaimer - Important Notice

This page provides public-interest educational information and commentary. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney. Every insurance claim and legal matter depends on its own facts, policies, deadlines, and governing law.